Remote management using chicken/VNC can not change password

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Level 2

301 points

Remote management using chicken/VNC can not change password

I have been setting up my MacMini for remote access (it functions as a headless server). To do so I have been using a simple password, '1'.

Now I want to change the password and can not do so in any way. I can still get in with Chicken if if switch of everything that has to do with sharing and remote access (I am doing this from within the same network, I sit a few meters away form the MM)

In setting all this up I also used VineServer, but this is not running at present.

Does anybody have any idea what is going on here?

MBP, MM, MBP - 10.6 + Windooz XP on a hard partition

Posted on Jun 27, 2012 9:38 AM

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Answer 1

ChangeAgent Author

Level 2

301 points

Jun 27, 2012 10:25 AM in response to ChangeAgent

I realise my post might no be to clear.

I can change the password in the MM to anything, Iike lets say "123", it will take it in the setup window, but it will refuse the new password as I try to log in. If I use the old password, "1" it lets me in.

And as you see above it even works when RL and RM are turned of.

And BTW I did a restart on both machines figuring something could be stuck.

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Answer 2

BobHarris

Level 9

56,939 points

Jun 27, 2012 11:05 AM in response to ChangeAgent

First I would be using Screen Sharing and NOT Remote Management. Remote Management is intended for use with Apple Remote Desktop (paid app) that is used to manage a classroom full of Macs or Macs in a company. For home use, Screen Sharing is generally more than enough.

I'm assuming you are talking about setting up the Remote Management (or Screen Sharing) -> Computer Settings... -> [X] VNC viewers may control screen with password: xxxxxxxxxxx

You mention Vine Server, are you SURE it is not running. By default Screen Sharing, Remote Management and Vine Server all try to control port 5900. The first app to get control well be in charge of the port. It is possible that Vine Server is in the driver's seat, so you would need to change the Vine Server's VNC password.

Vine Server can be configured so it uses a different port (such as 5901) and then when using Chicken, you would specify Display 1 or port 5901 to specificily talk to the Vine Server and Display 0 or port 5900 to talk to the Mac OS X build-in VNC server.

You can also get the Mac OS X Screen Sharing client to access the Vine Server alternate port (assuming you configure Vine Server for port 5901) using Finder -> Go -> Connect to Server -> vnc://MacMiniName.local:5901

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Answer 3

ChangeAgent Author

Level 2

301 points

Jun 27, 2012 1:23 PM in response to BobHarris

Thanks Bob, I see your point about Screen Sharing and Remote management.

BobHarris wrote:

I'm assuming you are talking about setting up the Remote Management (or Screen Sharing) -> Computer Settings... -> [X] VNC viewers may control screen with password: xxxxxxxxxxx

Yes. correct, Sorry was so used to using RM in the past I forgot.

BobHarris wrote:

You mention Vine Server, are you SURE it is not running. By default Screen Sharing, Remote Management and Vine Server all try to control port 5900. The first app to get control well be in charge of the port. It is possible that Vine Server is in the driver's seat, so you would need to change the Vine Server's VNC password.

100 pro it is not running.

Secondly, I had that idea too, I changed the password everywhere.

And as I show with the picture above and mentioned, I connect to the MM using Chicken with no boxes ticked and Vine Server not running either. So my suspicion is something is holding on to a setting or so. Or can you use Chicken without Screen Sharing or Remote Login or Remote management or Vine Server Running?

Yes Chicken and Vine Server are both setup to use 5901. And again that works. But I can not change the passwords. Meaning I can change them but can not log in with the new password. The old one sticks.

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Answer 4

BobHarris

Level 9

56,939 points

Jun 27, 2012 1:50 PM in response to ChangeAgent

Try using Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal

/usr/sbin/lsof|egrep ':590[0-9]|vnc-server'

I got the following on a system where I have Screen Sharing and Vine Server (aka OSXvnc) running:

OSXvnc-se   151 harris  txt  
REG   
14,2 
532372   2202891 /Library/Application Support/VineServer/OSXvnc-server
OSXvnc-se   151 harris
6u
IPv6  0x52478c8    
0t0   
TCP *:5901 (LISTEN)
OSXvnc-se   151 harris
7u
IPv4  0x5e5aa68    
0t0   
TCP *:5901 (LISTEN)
AppleVNCS   155 harris
5u
IPv6  0x5247b2c    
0t0   
TCP *:vnc-server (LISTEN)

where OSXvnc is Vine Server, and AppleVNCS is the Screen Sharing server. In my case, my Vine Server is configured for to listen on port 5901, and Screen Sharing is configured to listen on port vnc-server (which is standard for 5900).

See what you get.

I generally DO NOT use Chicken when connecting to the Screen Sharing server, as I tended to just use the Mac OS X Screen Sharing client (vnc://address). I tend to use Chicken talking to Vine Server with reduced colors for low bandwidth situations. So I never actually set my Screen Sharing VNC password, as using the Screen Sharing client to Screen Sharing server will use my Mac OS X login credentials.

NOTE: I also have a headless Mac mini, but when working on it at home, I always use Screen Sharing client to Screen Sharing server. Over WiFi it is very good performance, and I never have to worry about the VNC password, as I'm always using the Mac OS X login credentials.

Message was edited by: BobHarris

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Answer 5

ChangeAgent Author

Level 2

301 points

Jun 27, 2012 11:52 PM in response to BobHarris

Thanks Bob,

Mine looks a tick different:

OSXvnc-se 155 ganesh txt REG 14,2 532372 1233470 /Library/Application Support/VineServer/OSXvnc-server

OSXvnc-se 155 ganesh 8u IPv6 0x08415460 0t0 TCP *:5901 (LISTEN)

OSXvnc-se 155 ganesh 9u IPv4 0x08418f28 0t0 TCP *:5901 (LISTEN)

AppleVNCS 505 ganesh 8u IPv6 0x084151f0 0t0 TCP *:vnc-server (LISTEN)

AppleVNCS 505 ganesh 9u IPv6 0x08414830 0t0 TCP [::192.168.1.100]:vnc-server->[::192.168.1.20]:50100 (ESTABLISHED)

if I turn the VineServer on I get:

Finder 134 ganesh 13r REG 14,2 532372 1233470 /Library/Application Support/VineServer/OSXvnc-server

AppleVNCS 505 ganesh 8u IPv6 0x084151f0 0t0 TCP *:vnc-server (LISTEN)

AppleVNCS 505 ganesh 9u IPv6 0x08414830 0t0 TCP [::192.168.1.100]:vnc-server->[::192.168.1.20]:50100 (ESTABLISHED)

OSXvnc-se 579 ganesh txt REG 14,2 532372 1233470 /Library/Application Support/VineServer/OSXvnc-server

OSXvnc-se 579 ganesh 8u IPv6 0x08414350 0t0 TCP *:5901 (LISTEN)

OSXvnc-se 579 ganesh 9u IPv4 0x08416278 0t0 TCP *:5901 (LISTEN)

OSXvnc-se 633 ganesh txt REG 14,2 532372 1233470 /Library/Application Support/VineServer/OSXvnc-server

OSXvnc-se 633 ganesh 8u IPv4 0x08417ad8 0t0 TCP *:vnc-server (LISTEN)

OSXvnc-se 641 ganesh txt REG 14,2 532372 1233470 /Library/Application Support/VineServer/OSXvnc-server

OSXvnc-se 641 ganesh 7u IPv6 0x08414aa0 0t0 TCP *:5902 (LISTEN)

OSXvnc-se 641 ganesh 8u IPv4 0x12affb98 0t0 TCP *:5902 (LISTEN)

OSXvnc-se 676 ganesh txt REG 14,2 532372 551740 /Applications/Vine Server 3/Vine Server.app/Contents/Resources/OSXvnc-server

OSXvnc-se 676 ganesh 7u IPv6 0x084145c0 0t0 TCP localhost:5901 (LISTEN)

OSXvnc-se 676 ganesh 8u IPv4 0x08418f28 0t0 TCP localhost:5901 (LISTEN)

Seva-Server:~ ganesh$

Not sure if I see anything that could indicate the source of the problem. (but than I am not an expert).

Could the last line be the indication as to what is making the old password stick?

I do tend to not log in over the Chicken and VineServer, at home I use screen sharing etc. But, like you , when I am away, and have poor bandwidth I use chicken and VineServer. It is than that I use the VNC password.

However, what ever, I can at the moment not get rid or the existing VNC Password and like to.

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